Personal Hydration System for Use with Face Mask

ABSTRACT

A personal hydration system includes a curved body that fits over the user&#39;s mouth. The curved body includes an integrally molded rearwardly extending tube and a downwardly extending tube that are connected together, forming a passageway. A resilient nipple is optionally mounted to the rearwardly extending tube and is received by the user in the user&#39;s mouth. Tubing extends downwardly from the downwardly extending tube and has a free end positioned in a beverage.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of devices for personal hydration while wearing a protective respiratory mask.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Protective respiratory masks are known as face masks or respirators. One type of face mask is a surgical mask, which typically is a loose-fitting article that creates a physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and the environment. The surgical masks often are used to prevent the user from inhalation exposures to potential contaminants in the immediate environment. Another type of mask is a respirator mask which provides a very close facial fit and highly effective filtration of airborne particles. The N95 respirator and surgical N95 respirator masks are typical examples.

Traditionally, protective respiratory masks were used during the time of potential exposure, such as during a medical procedure or a hospital visit to an immunocompromised patient. However, with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, mask wearing became a mandatory step for many consumers during excursions outside the home, for example, shopping, personal services visits to a barber or hair salon, medical appointments with health care providers, travel, visits to family members, etc. For many front line workers who deal with the public as part of their jobs, for example doctors, nurses, physical therapists, trainers, food service workers, retail employees, salespersons, a mark became a required part of their work garb.

Mask wearing as an infection control measure has been considered very effective, particularly when a respirator mask is used, however, it is extremely difficult to insure adequate hydration when a mask is worn for the 8 or more hours of a workday.

There is a current need for a personal hydration system for use with a face mask that will allow users to consume beverages and maintain adequate hydration even in locations where protective respiratory masks are either desirable or required to be work to protect the health of individuals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A personal hydration system includes a curved body that fits over the user's mouth, elastic cords attached to the curved body for looping over the ears to hold the curved body adjacent the user's mouth. The curved body includes an integrally molded rearwardly extending tube and a downwardly extending tube. A resilient nipple is mounted to the rearwardly extending tube and is received by the user in the user's mouth, and external tubing is attached to the downwardly extending tube and has a free end positioned in a beverage. A beverage may be contained in a beverage container, and an elastic cover with an aperture for the external tubing to extend therethrough is located on the beverage.

The personal hydration system minimizes the spread or transmission of disease by allowing a user to continue to wear a respiratory mask while still being able to drink water or other beverages. The personal hydration system can be used by travelers on airplanes or other public transportation systems, or by spectators at entertainment venues, for example, sporting events where beverages are sold; or by front line workers who are obliged to stay masked; or in any other locations where continued hydration and masking are both needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a curved body of an embodiment of a personal hydration system.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the curved body of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the curved body of FIG. 2 and external tubing.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the curved body of FIG. 1 and a resilient nipple.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a user wearing an embodiment of a personal hydration system.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a user wearing the embodiment of a personal hydration system of FIG. 5 with a respiratory mask over the personal hydration system.

FIG. 7 is a view of the external tubing of FIG. 3 extending through an elastic cover on a beverage container.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a user wearing the embodiment of a personal hydration system of FIG. 5 with a respiratory mask over the personal hydration system and using it to drink a beverage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, a personal hydration system 10 includes a curved body 20 that fits over the user's mouth. The curved body 20 is generally oval and has a curved, shallow bowl shape, that fits over the user's lips. Curved body 20 has a base 22 and a rim 24. The base 22 is in the center of the body 20. Rim 24 surrounds the base 22. Rim 24 optionally has a plurality of perforations 26 around at least the sides or lateral perimeter portions 28 thereof, or around the entire perimeter of rim 24.

Base 22 has a rearwardly extending tube 30 formed in the curved body 20 which is centered on and extends rearwardly from the base 22 of the curved body 20. A downwardly extending tube 32 is formed in the curved body 20 and connects to the rearwardly extending tube 30. A passageway is formed by the connected downwardly extending tube 32 and the rearwardly extending tube 30 so that liquid can pass through the downwardly extending tube 32 into the rearwardly extending tube 30.

A resilient nipple 50 is mounted to the rearwardly extending tube 30 and is received by the user in the user's mouth. Nipple 50 may be a short resilient straw that may be frictionally mounted onto rearwardly extending tube 30 by fitting into or over the rearwardly extending tube 30.

External tubing 52 is attached to the downwardly extending tube 32 and has a free end 53. External tubing 52 is preferably a flexible resilient tubing that may be frictionally mounted onto downwardly extending tube 32 by fitting into or over the downwardly extending tube 32.

Cords or strings 40 are mounted to the body 20 and allow the body 20 to be retained on the user. Cords or strings 40 have a length sufficient to engage with the user's ears. In a preferred embodiment, cords or strings 40 are elastic cords. Cords or strings 40 may be mounted to the body by extending through the perforations 26 in the rim of the curved body 20. Alternatively, other openings or attachment points may be provided in body 20. One or more optional tightening barrels 42 are slidable on the cords to adjust the fit of the elastic cords to the user.

External tubing 52 free end 53 can be positioned in a beverage 60 in beverage container 62. Beverage 60 may be contained in the beverage container 62 with an elastic cover 64 with an aperture 66 for the external tubing 52 to extend therethrough whereby the tubing free end 53 is located in the beverage 60 in beverage container 62.

A respiratory mask 80 may be worn over the personal hydration system 10. The user, despite wearing the respiratory mask 80 will be able to drink beverages and maintain hydration even in in locations where it is appropriate or required to keep the mask on at all times. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A personal hydration system, comprising: curved body having a base and a rim, the curved body being shaped to align with and fit over a user's mouth, the rim having a plurality of perforations around at least the lateral perimeter portions thereof, the base having a rearwardly extending tube formed in the curved body and centered on and extending rearwardly from the base of the curved body, and a downwardly extending tube formed in the curved body which is connected to the rearwardly extending tube to provide a passageway from the downwardly extending tube to the rearwardly extending tube; elastic cords extending through the perforations in the rim of the curved body and having a length sufficient to mount the cords to the user's ears, and one or more tightening barrels slidable on the cords to adjust the fit of the elastic cords to the user; a resilient nipple mounted to the rearwardly extending tube for the user to receive in the user's mouth; and external tubing attached to the downwardly extending tube and having a free end for positioning in a beverage.
 2. The personal hydration system of claim 1, further comprising: a beverage container; and an elastic cover for the beverage container having an aperture with the external tubing extending therethrough whereby the tubing free end is located in the beverage container.
 3. A personal hydration system, comprising: curved body having a base and a rim, the curved body being shaped to align with and fit over a user's mouth, the base having a rearwardly extending tube formed in the curved body and centered on and extending rearwardly from the base of the curved body, and a downwardly extending tube formed in the curved body which is connected to the rearwardly extending tube to provide a passageway from the downwardly extending tube to the rearwardly extending tube.
 4. The personal hydration system of claim 3, further comprising: a resilient nipple mounted to the rearwardly extending tube for the user to receive in the user's mouth.
 5. The personal hydration system of claim 3, further comprising: tubing attached to the downwardly extending tube and having a free end.
 6. The personal hydration system of claim 5, further comprising: a beverage container; and an elastic cover for the beverage container having an aperture with the external tubing extending therethrough whereby the tubing free end is located in the beverage container.
 7. The personal hydration system of claim 3, further comprising: cords secured to the curved body and having a length sufficient to mount the cords to the user's ears.
 8. A personal hydration system, comprising: curved body having a base and a rim, the curved body being shaped to align with and fit over a user's mouth, the base having a rearwardly extending tube formed in the curved body and centered on and extending rearwardly from the base of the curved body, and a downwardly extending tube formed in the curved body which is connected to the rearwardly extending tube to provide a passageway from the downwardly extending tube to the rearwardly extending tube; and cords secured to the curved body and having a length sufficient to mount the cords to the user's ears.
 9. The personal hydration system of claim 8, further comprising: a resilient nipple mounted to the rearwardly extending tube for the user to receive in the user's mouth.
 10. The personal hydration system of claim 8, further comprising: tubing attached to the downwardly extending tube and having a free end.
 11. The personal hydration system of claim 10, further comprising: a beverage container; and an elastic cover for the beverage container having an aperture with the external tubing extending therethrough whereby the tubing free end is located in the beverage container. 